hopeful monster

Toronto, ON

http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/hopeful-monster

Genres: Space Pop, Psychedelic
Website: http://hopefulmonstermusic.blogspot.com/
Email: jason.meredith.ball@gmail.com
Label: Unsigned

Hopeful Monster began as a recording project at songwriter Jason Ball’s Nervous System studio in Seabright, Nova Scotia. There, he and studio partner Paul Aucoin (vibraphonist of The Hylozoists, The Sadies, Cuff The Duke) spent the first few months of 2001 recording two albums—"Hopeful Monster" and the Hylozoists’ "La Nouvelle Gauche," both released by Halifax's Brobdingnagian Records to international acclaim. In 2002, Hopeful Monster began playing live shows in Halifax and showcased in Montreal and Toronto. Jason and Paul (on drums) were joined by Dale Murray (The Guthries, Cuff The Duke) on electric guitar and pedal steel; Andy Patil (Matt Mays & El Torpedo) on bass; frequent collaborator David Christensen (Heavy Blinkers, Jenn Grant, Hawkesly Workman) on organ and flute; and vocalist/vibraphonist Damien Moynihan (now drumming with Garrett Mason). Between local performances and productions at Nervous System (Guthries, Heavy Blinkers, The American Flag, Jason Haywood), Hopeful Monster produced two videos in 2003, for River Reflexive (Independent) and Stars Are Photomagnets (Videofact). Heavy Blinker Greg Fry took over on drums. In June, Jason toured Norway and the UK to promote the European release of the debut album by Norwegian indie label Hype City Recordings, traveling and performing with Sufjan Stevens, Emil Nikolaisen (Sereena Maneesh) and label owner Frode Stromstad. While in Oslo, he was honoured to perform at the wedding party for Of Montreal star couple Kevin and Nina Barnes. In 2004, Jason moved to Toronto and that summer, returned to Europe as a member of The Heavy Blinkers, opening shows with solo sets of Hopeful Monster songs in Germany and France. When his wife Catherine became pregnant with their daughter, Zola Calliope, in 2005, Jason stayed close to home, playing keyboards in the Hylozoists and with chanteuse Lily Frost, as well as harmonizing in vocal pop triumvirate The Wilderness with fellow songwriters Andrew Rodriguez (Bodega) and Jason Kent (& Crystal Lake). The Wilderness performed only a few times, opening for international sensations Rufus Wainwright and Arctic Monkeys, before disbanding. For two years, the Ball family lived quietly in the Nova Scotia countryside. Jason branched out, teaching sound recording at a Halifax college and taking up the job of organist in a remote seaside church. As of this spring, Jason is back in Toronto with Hopeful Monster’s second effort, METATASKING, hot in hand. The album consists of tracks recorded with Halifax bandmembers as well as tracks recorded in Toronto with members of The Wilderness and The Hylozoists. Exciting mixes by Andrew Watt (Heavy Blinkers, Pop In Sessions) at Common Ground Studios feature harmonies by The Wilderness, By Divine Right front man Jose Contreras and by Jason's lovely wife. A limited edition CD in a hand-decorated jacket was released at Toronto 's Horseshoe Tavern on June 19, 2008 and the new band line-up introduced, with Jose on guitar, bassist Jeremy Little (Jason Collett band), drummer Gavin Maguire (Pete Elkas band) and Trews keyboardist Jeff Heisholt. The album is available at concerts and online at iTunes and CDBaby.